Peugeot have been making cars since 1891. When looking into this automaker’s rich history, several eras could be seen as more or less outstanding. The streamlined -02s of the ‘30s and ‘40s or the competent -06s of the late ‘90s are definitely noteworthy, for instance. But as this little 204 might illustrate, I contend that the -04 era, from 1960 to 1975, was Peugeot’s absolute pinnacle.
It was certainly Peugeot’s busiest, in terms of variety of models within their range. Starting with the 404 in 1960, followed by the 204 in 1965, the 504 in 1968, the 304 in 1969, the 104 in 1972 and ending with the 604 in 1975, the French firm produced a string of hits (well, except the 604) that it has never equaled since. But what was the secret sauce? How are all these models related, other than by numerical nameplates and a time, the ‘60s/’70s, when Peugeot were still singular, not the PSA conglomerate of today?
One commonality was innovation, such as the 404’s fuel injection, the 204’s transverse FWD, the 504’s all-independent suspension. This was also a time when PininFarina authored many Peugeot designs – but not all, or rather not all on their own. There was also a small in-house team headed by Paul Bouvot, who worked with the Italians and sometimes competed with them. There was also a kinship in the -04 interiors, which all have a conservative and understated quality: a simple dash design, slightly out-of-date details like the column gearchange (except the 104 and 604, by which time Peugeot had abandoned this feature) and quality workmanship that made those interiors pretty durable – certainly much more than the -05 ones.
The -04s (again, with the exception of the 604) also had a reputation for being solid and reliable automobiles, especially compared to their domestic competitors. Citroëns were technically brilliant but rather half-baked. Renaults and Simcas were less brilliant and better sorted, but felt like tin cans next to the sturdy Pugs, which did cost a few Francs more than their competitors — for good reason. It’s no coincidence that the Peugeots that were used extensively in South America, as well as Africa and the Middle-East were usually of the -04 generation.
The only major sin associated with this generation of Peugeots is rust, but then most cars of that period were guilty of that too – and not a few were far worse than Peugeot on that score. The ones that have survived will hopefully be restored and pampered just as well as this 50-year-old 204 appears to be, though a number of 404 and 504 pickups are still working for a living in Africa. The only question, really, is which one to pick, as there are just so many models and variants. A sweet 304 cabriolet, a Niedermeyer-approved 404 wagon, a tiny 104 hatchback, a stretched 604 limo, a luscious 504 coupé or this adorable 204 saloon? Decisions, decisions…
Related posts:
Curbside Classic: 1973 Peugeot 204 – FWD Thinking, by T87
Cohort Capsule: Peugeot 204 Coupe – Sweet Baby Peugeot , by PN
Say what you want about the lengthy Top Gear segment on Peugeot and its drivers, the core point absolutely stands: Peugeot is good at whatever it puts its mind to, even if that varies dramatically by the year. Sturdy -04s, sporty -06s, lame -07s.
I’ll never fall out of love with the 404, although I haven’t got one, I always keep an eye out on 404’s which are for sale. The ride even by today’s standard is great, the whole concept of the car is great.
504 Convertible and 604 V6, despite your (probably wise) caution. Once’s just simply a beautiful car, and the only about the only contemporary that could tempt me out of a Rover 3500SD1 series 1
Believe me, the 2 liter injection is a far better combo than that akward PRV V6.
The V6 has what the Germans say a horrible laufkultur, as it is a V8 where they cut off 2 cylinders.
A 2 liter fuel injection can run like a dream. Problem is to find the guy who can finetune the injection system.
I wish there were more of these in the United States; our car shows are often missing some variety. This one’s a beauty!
Didn’t know both 404 and 504 wagons were available simultaneously.
For about two years, approximately. The 504 wagon came in the fall of ’70 as a ’71. Without looking it up exactly, 404 wagons were made through ’72 or so.
In the US there was no overlap on the wagons.
Interesting. It’s almost counter-intuitive to retain the previous model once the replacement is launched, but IIRC Peugeot did this with the 403/404 sedans as well as the 404/405 sedans ( and probablty 203/403 as well). And why not, especially when there’s nothing really wrong with the outgoing model and to a certain extent this is how VW uses its Skoda and Seat brands. But for some reason I’m thinking having both wagons in market just encourages unnecessary cannibalisation of the incoming wagon’s sales potential.
Peugeot did this consistently, certainly with their main RWD cars. The 203 was built until 1960 even though the 403 started in ’55. Then the 403 went on until ’66, even though the 404 started in ’60. And the 404 went on (in France) until ’75, although the 504 started in 1968.
In each case, only the lower trim variants were kept in production for a number of years to offer a lower-cost well-proven version, rpobably for taxis and fleets, and those that were cheap and valued a well-proven design.
Actually, the two year overlap with those two wagons was shorter than usual.
When I last lived in SW London 10 years ago someone had two of these – a sedan and a wagon, in white and blue respectively. Made a great noise. Never saw them parked so presumably garaged and pampered
The first thing I think of when seeing a 04 Peugeot is rust. These cars were known for it back in the seventies / early eighties.
The pic of the 204 reminds me when my friend was looking for his first car to buy. That must have been around 1982, our country did not have a yearly inspection yet. One of the cars we looked at (I joined him because I thought I knew a thing or two about cars whereas he did not) was a terminally rotten 204 of 10 years old. Apart from the usual rust holes everywhere, I noticed a wooden beam near the rear suspension. Supposedly something had collapsed and the beam was there to provide new strength.
Just two or three years earlier my father had to give up his 404 Familiale (Estate with three seat rows) because the rear door could not be opened because the top hinges could not support it (they had rusted into the roof). At that time the 404 was 8 years old. When my father bought it at the age of 4, it already had new front wings because the old ones were rusted through.
I loved driving the 404 with its column change. My father allowed me to drive it on the backroads, me being under-18 I did not have a drivers license.
Another thing I remember from that 404 is that my father could not get over the fact that it had such good brakes. Power brakes was not something he had before (Citroen Ami, Glas 1204 and Opel Rekord) and he was amazed by it.
Totally agree with you T87, that era was peak Peugeot. I would choose a 404 or 504 sedan (and a 604 with PRV V6, despite its weaknesses)
No argument here. Or not much, anyway.
The 404 was the best they ever made, a Lancia with pushrods and ’20’s torque tubes, yet engineered to work as well as alloy V6’s and independently-suspended objects. And much tougher than their lovely commensurates from Torino.
The 504 sank a little below that standard in a way the better specs said it should not, and the 604 was all class but no co-ordination and, despite the willing of every foolish peugeotphile, fell further again. I’d still have one, albeit one you paid for.
This 204 only came herewards in (probably) experimental numbers, so I can’t comment beyond saying overseas reports were glowing but clearly involved a certain delicacy as concerned the gearbox-in-sump noise and slickness, too much and too little respectively. The buttered gearbox of the 404 being a known wonder, it must lessen the whole from the standards of the only 04 that starts with 4.
Still, lovely pics of the second best or so, Mr T.
We prepared quite a few 504 familiare’s but also some sedans for the long journey overland to Africa. Friends of us bought them, and sold them overthere with a very healthy profit, taking a plane back. Very adventurous journey, and maybe some of those cars are still driving around overthere. (This was back in the 80’s, btw)